overwhelm

//ˌoʊvərˈwɛlm//
B2Frequency Level 8Neutral
Visual representation of overwhelm

Verb

overwhelmInfinitive
overwhelmPresent tense
overwhelmedPast tense
overwhelmedPast participle
overwhelmingPresent participle
overwhelmsThird-person singular
1

To bury or drown beneath a huge mass of something, especially water; to submerge completely.

The massive wave overwhelmed the coastal village.

2

To overpower or defeat completely with superior force or numbers.

The army overwhelmed the enemy forces in a matter of hours.

3

To cause someone to feel sudden strong emotion, especially anxiety, confusion, or helplessness; to make someone unable to cope mentally or emotionally.

The news of her father's illness overwhelmed her with anxiety.

4

To give someone far too much of something to deal with, such as work, information, or requests.

The manager overwhelmed the new employee with too many tasks on the first day.